Indian American lawmakers seek status on anti-Hindu crime probe from US justice department

The five representatives who have approached the department are Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Shri Thanedar, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Bera.

• Shubham
• 04 April, 2024

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By: Shubham Ghosh

IN a significant development, a number of Indian-American Congressmen have asked the US justice department to provide them with updates on the status of investigations into recent acts of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the country.

The lawmakers making the move include Representatives Ro Khanna (California), Shri Thanedar (Michigan), Pramila Jayapal (Washington) and Ami Bera (California). They were led by Raja Krishnamoorthi, a representative from Illinois.

According to a report by IndiaWest Journal, the Congressmen wrote a letter to the justice department on March 29 placing their request.

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They also urged the department to reveal its broader strategy against hate crimes targeting Hindus in the US.

A number of Hindu temples have been targeted in the US in the recent months, causing much anxiety among the community there.

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“Attacks at mandirs from New York to California have contributed to increased collective anxiety among Hindu Americans,” the members wrote, according to the IndiaWest Journal.

“Leaders from these impacted communities have expressed there are unfortunately ‘no leads’ on suspects, leaving many to continue to live in fear and intimidation. Our communities remain concerned about law enforcement coordination regarding these bias-motivated crimes, and they are left wondering if there is appropriate federal oversight to ensure equal protection under the law.”

“The number of incidents and the closeness of the timing of incidents raise troubling questions about linkages and the intent behind them,” the letter added.

“It takes relatively few coordinated acts of hate to create fear within a community that has often been marginalized or neglected, and we must work collaboratively to combat hate against all religious, ethnic, racial, and cultural minorities in America. We therefore request that you provide us with an understanding of what the Department’s strategy is specifically concerning hate crimes targeting Hindus in the United States.”

The lawmakers have also requested the justice department to provide them with the information by April 18.